Caught On Tape: U.S. Test Fires Nuclear ICBM, Warns "We Are Prepared To Use Nuclear Weapons"

Less than two years ago, news of Russia test-firing an ICBM just as the east Ukraine civil war was heating up, was sufficient to send the stock market into a brief tailspin. Since then, the launches of nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles has become an almost daily occurrence, with the market hardly batting an eyelid.

In fact, it happened just last night at 11:01pm PST at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, where - for the second time this week - the US test-fired its second intercontinental ballistic missile in the past seven days, seeking to demonstrate its nuclear arms capacity at a time of rising strategic tensions with Russia, North Korea, China and the middle east.

The unarmed Minuteman III missile roared out of a silo at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California late at night, raced across the sky at speeds of up to 15,000 mph (24,000 kph) and landed a half hour later in a target area 4,200 miles (6,500 km) away near Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands of the South Pacific.

The entire launch was caught on the following video, which was released by Vandenberg just 4 days after the previous ICBM launch.

What was more disturbing than the actual launch, however, was the rhetoric behind it: instead of passing it off as another routine test, and letting US "adversaries" make up their own mind about what is going on, Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work, who witnessed the launch, said the U.S. tests, conducted at least 15 times since January 2011, send a message to strategic rivals like Russia, China and North Korea that Washington has an effective nuclear arsenal. "That’s exactly why we do this," Work told reporters before the launch.

Of course, the #1 unspoken rule when launching ICBMs is to never explicitly say why you are doing it. By breaking said rule, it marks a much greater escalation in international diplomacy than merely test firing the nuclear-capable ballistic missile.

That, however, was not an issue and Work piled on, with the following stunner

"We and the Russians and the Chinese routinely do test shots to prove that the operational missiles that we have are reliable. And that is a signal ... that we are prepared to use nuclear weapons in defense of our country if necessary."

Well that's good to know.

As Reuters adds, demonstrating the reliability of the nuclear force has taken on additional importance recently because the U.S. arsenal is near the end of its useful life and a spate of scandals in the nuclear force two years ago raised readiness questions.

The Defense Department has poured millions of dollars into improving conditions for troops responsible for staffing and maintaining the nuclear systems. The administration also is putting more focus on upgrading the weapons.

President Barack Obama’s final defense budget unveiled this month calls for a $1.8 billion hike in nuclear arms spending to overhaul the country's aging nuclear bombers, missiles, submarines and other systems.

That said, the irony of the Nobel Peace Prize winner re-escalating the arms race was not lost on Reuters: the nuclear spending boost is an ironic turn for a president who made reducing U.S. dependence on atomic weapons a centerpiece of his agenda during his first years in office.

Obama called for a world eventually free of nuclear arms in a speech in Prague and later reached a new strategic weapons treaty with Russia. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in part based on his stance on reducing atomic arms. "He was going to de-emphasize the role of nuclear weapons in U.S. national security policy ... but in fact in the last few years he has emphasized new spending," said John Isaacs of the Council for a Livable World, an arms control advocacy group.

Perhaps the Nobel committee should watch the video above and decide if it is not too late to ask for their prize back.

And just like that the nuclear arms race is back.

Critics say the Pentagon's plans are unaffordable and unnecessary because it intends to build a force capable of deploying the 1,550 warheads permitted under the New START treaty... Hans Kristensen, an analyst at the Federation of American Scientists, said the Pentagon's costly "all-of-the-above" effort to rebuild all its nuclear systems was a "train wreck that everybody can see is coming." Kingston Reif of the Arms Control Association, said the plans were "divorced from reality."

The Pentagon could save billions by building a more modest force that would delay the new long-range bomber, cancel the new air launched cruise missile and construct fewer ballistic submarines, arms control advocates said.

Work said the Pentagon understood the financial problem. The department would need $18 billion a year between 2021 and 2035 for its portion of the nuclear modernization, which is coming at the same time as a huge "bow wave" of spending on conventional ships and aircraft, he said.

"If it becomes clear that it’s too expensive, then it’s going to be up to our national leaders to debate" the issue, Work said, something that could take place during the next administration when spending pressures can no longer be ignored.

As a reminder, the last time the U.S. engaged in a nuclear arms race with the USSR, it led to the collapse of the "evil empire." It would be even more ironic that Obama launching nuclear rockets if this time around the tables on the ultimate loser are turned.

In the meantime, just think of all the GDP-boosting "broken windows" that would result from a nuclear war.

We cannot rule out the nuclear option when Russia is openly threatening our allies Turkey and Saudi Arabia with the threat of nuclear war. Russia need to stand down in Syria and mind their own business, or face the wrath of our armed forces. We cannot be passive in this conflict. - we need to demonstrate our authority and proactively defend our interests overseas. We have nukes for situations like this - and we need to be ready to use them.

Zero question in my mind that the jews who run the satanic District of Columbia from Tel Aviv are willing to use the Samson Option (as soon as their dual passport tribemembers are comfortably barricaded on Greek Islands with gold stuffed bunkers)...

"Every 'small' war pulls the trigger in nuclear roulette. Each of these probabilities, by itself, is small. But taken together over a year's time, they add up to a cumulative probability which is no longer small. Taken together over a century, they make nuclear war virtually inevitable." -Dr. Martin HellmanStanford University http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~hellman/Breakthrough/book/chapters/hellman.html

Why the fuck do they want to make these devices to wipe out cities of millions of people and potentially destroy earth? These psychopaths beat off to this shit.

Just because these people were born in a country called "Russia or Korea" doesn't mean they are not people. This us and them mentality has to stop. They are people like us, trying to live their lives with assholes ruling over them playing their power games.

Lemme see here.The Messiah, Beloved Dear Leader of All Progressives, Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Commander in Chief of all US Armed Forces, is Doing this on His Watch.

So really?!?!?!?!?! What's all this crap about the Anti-Christ? Shit's unfolding as Prophecised (Not meaning at all to be Religious. Just sayin')

PS That's what a night time launch of a US Minuteman or Trident solid fuel rocket looks like. Not the "THING" that was so called shot "Up" the Coast about 6 months ago. See, they can't even keep the Propaganda straight, anymoreGonna get us all killed

If ISIS was really bothering Obama he could have called Vlad 2 years ago . The whole thing would have been over before they took Mosul, Instead they had to piss on the Russians to create tension to extend the dollar (or some such shit)

"If you wanted to teach a baby a lesson, would you cuts its head off?'

"Why . . . no, sir!'"

"Of course not. You'd paddle it. There can be circumstances when it's just as foolish to hit an enemy with an H-Bomb as it would be to spank a baby with an ax. War is not violence and killing, pure and simple; war is controlled violence, for a purpose. The purpose of war is to support your government's decisions by force. The purpose is never to kill the enemy just to be killing him . . . but to make him do what you want him to do. Not killing . . . but controlled and purposeful violence"

R Heinlein - Starship Troopers

The thing about the Samson Option, how easy is it to actually execute? Do the people who do the activating of the nukes die in the explosion, or do they have time to set a timer and flee? And what about family/friends?

It definitely is the ultimate proof that sociopathy exists at the highest levels, though.

The thing about the Samson Option, how easy is it to actually execute? Do the people who do the activating of the nukes die in the explosion, or do they have time to set a timer and flee? And what about family/friends?

It definitely is the ultimate proof that sociopathy exists at the highest levels, though.

This launch(es) is/are known as a "F.O.O.T. Shot" - a Follow On Operational Test ... and occasionally they're done in pairs. Anyway, fairly standard fare - although the rhetoric is stupid and counter-productive.

In regards to the Sampson option: it's pretty easy to execute - but rest assured the people giving the command won't be anywhere near the blasts .... but the people who turn keys on those nukes will very likely die - as will their family and friends. They probably won't think about that in the moment - they'll be thinking about following orders. During Emergency War Operations, your brain is on "not fooking up" - not on "consequences." Nuke crews are very efficient in what they do - a result of pretty extensive training and "conditioning."

And they teach their kids about 'Masada' as an example of what NOT to do! "We have to have a Samson Option because the only other choice is to follow the example of Masada (i.e. mass suicide to prevent capture/defeat/enslavement)"

"Virtually all scholars agree that seven of the Pauline letters are authentic: Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians and Philemon," says Ehrman. Individuals claiming to be Paul wrote 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, 2 Thessalonians, Ephesians and Colossians, he adds. Contradictory views, discrepancies in the language and the choice of words among the books attributed to Paul are all evidence of this forgery, the author asserts. For example, Ehrman’s analysis of the book of Ephesians shows that the text, filled with long Greek sentences, doesn’t match with Paul’s peculiar Greek writing style, made of short sentences. Moreover, the content of what the author says "stands at odds with Paul’s own thought, but is in line with the Ephesians," writes Ehrman. -http://news.discovery.com/history/bible-new-testament-forgery-110518.htm

No denial here. I wasn't there. You were not there. The so called experts and scholars were not either. Discuss and argue all you want the source, but the truth of what I posted remains, untouched by your criticisms. Logical fallicy much?

An actual launch would probably be passed off to the sheep with the keys as a "test". It couldn't be done any other way, as no one has ever actually launched an ICBM in anger. How do we know the operators would actually go through with it given a choice? Duping them is the only way to insure a pang of conscience doesn't get in the way. They won't realized that they just destroyed the world until too late.

That would be difficult, even considering the "selection standards" for "Missileers". Test launches are scheduled well in advance ("other Countries" might have issues with an unscheduled, un-notified launch, for pretty obvious reasons :-) ), and test launches are always for individual missiles.

Seeing as each Launch Control Centre is responsible for in the order of 10 silos, and in times of real conflict, a significant portion of those missiles will be launched at once, or in a VERY short timeframe (minutes, not hours) it'll be pretty obvious to even the "professionally dumb" that something big is afoot. Then there is the high probability that the remainder may be salvo-launched, especially if the site is identified as an incoming warhead target.

They WILL know what they are doing. Will they follow "orders", knowing the consequences of their actions? That is "the" interesting question, and I suspect "programming" means they WILL, because "The System" will have ensured compliance.

The US entertains the possibilty of a no win situation. A nuclear war with a country that has nukes and ICBMs that are capable of targeting US military and population centers. And the US markets rejoice at the prospects or pay it no mind. We used to be smart. Now we be just plain fucking stupid.

There are axioms in Texas. Never french kiss a rattle snake. And, never look a gift horse in the wrong mouth - cause you'll get nothing but a lot of shit.

We've gone from death cult to suicide cult, almost overnight - and the markets rejoice. Self imposed rapture.

You mean a Dieboldient, right? Until we go back to paper ballots in a clear ballot box, we don't really know how the vote went. Clinton says he will veto Nafta - and does the opposite. Choice between Bush and Gore/Lieberman - totally no win what ever the way the Diebold pointed. Bush II was an idiot, the perfect patsy. It was cruel to take advantage of that guys family name - shit - he just wanted to snort coke, fuck his fat wife (who killed her first choice life mate in a car accident), play video games and clear bush from his ranch on Sunday. Donn't think he wanted anything except to be left alone - he was used.

Live in Houston. Probably the most cosmopolitan city in Texas. Not a military town like most Texas cities. Back when the most recent phase of the forever war was embedded on CNN, we'd see military helicopters buzzing round and freak out. Moved here from another Texas city that was a military town. Was surprised, and pleased, to see Muslims and Indians wearing cultural garment while ringing registers at the Exxon station.

Local news is fairly independent. They informed Houstonians about federalized city police using DHS about drones. Local news also showed police gassing UH students who were part-time imitating the occupy movement. Local news also reported the alpha contamination of Houston wells. The fucking mayor, under order of the DHS, wouldn't say where the other wells were. I guess DHS figured some Al Kada Dude, if the wells were made public, would boil a bunch of water down and make a dirty bomb from the residue - town moved from aquifer water to surface water and changed water disinfectant from chlorine to chloroacetate. BTW, the reason the well water was contaminated is cause a drought, IMO, caused some abandoned uranium mines in the Karnes City / Kennedy area to collapse. However, San Antonio, upstream, is still the only town on the powdered baby formula cans that can be mixed right from the tap. Good water in SA. SA is a slab of limestone with a few inches of dirt on top of it.

Houston has a big corrupt oncology industry sucking insurance and copays from any that got bit by the water or the phenols from the oil patch. I did a gig in the oil patch. It was a quant-ish (physical chemistry) platform - but worked from home office.

Open carry state. Concealed carry state. Houstonians don't allow the federalizes (municipal cops) to fuck with em. One constable in my old hood left or was booted out. I'd be walking the dog late at night, like a bunch of my neighbors were doing, cause it was just too hot (Houston can be hot - visiting unacclimated sweat soak em wet in 4 minutes), the bitch would stop ask my name - and I asked her over and over "How can I help you officer". After failing on more than one night, she got PO's and the followed me home. She'd try to `splain that elements of the apartment complex adjacent to the hood were a problem - i say no they ain't - they're salt of the earth hard working assholes like the rest of us.

Liked it better before the FF of nine slash `leven. I'd fly here (Houston has a big financial/investment bank district). I'd take the 20 minute flight from SA, and the return was open. Once I suggested I could sit in the planes bath room and a flight attendant going back home suggested she'd stay there with me. Didn't matter what your ticket said, you could negate the flight at the gate.

All the Bushes seem to be rich idiots. There was one, however, that around WWII, was a tenured professor at MIT and he figured out a way to build microwave transducers (for radars) on an assembly line. Another example, behind Colin Bowel, while he lied about Iraq WMDs with weather truck cartoons at the UN, was the very famous John Negroponte, a wanted for war crimes asshole. And yet, another Negroponte, invented a computer that was powered with a windup type power supply like an led flashlight and used mesh network technology sthat allows African villagers to hookup up without requiring all the infrastructure we have in the US. Go figure.

I am moving to Maui. Got an LLC waiting for me so it can start up, there. Lived in Hawaii before, after a couple of years in an El Paso elementary school. Ya know what I missed. I missed hanging with Mexicans (Latinos' - Mexican Americans) that I play marbles,tops and little league ball with. I hated leaving Hawaii - was de jr class sufer of the year(!) - it is paradise - about 6 weeks out from the move.